Wiper control

Abstract

A method for cleaning and drying a transparent pane is described. The method uses a hydrophobic coating in order to wipe off the residual moisture, wherein the quantity of water on the outside of the pane is measured after the vehicle engine has been switched off and, in the event of a constant or decreasing quantity of water, at least one wiping operation is carried out after a waiting time of at least 1 minute. A device for cleaning and drying the transparent pane is also described.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for cleaning and drying a transparent pane having a hydrophobic coating for wiping off residual moisture of a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle engine, comprising:
 A) starting an automated wiping operation by turning off the motor vehicle engine; 
 B) after the motor vehicle engine is turned off, measuring by a rain sensor a quantity of water on an outer side of the pane; and 
 C) in the case of a constant or a decreasing quantity of water, after a waiting time of at least 1 minute measured by a timer, carrying out at least one wiping operation, wherein the wiping operation is controlled by a wiper control. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 D) resetting the timer; 
 E) checking a wiper switch, whereupon Step D) is performed if the wiper switch is turned on, or Step F) is performed if the wiper switch is turned off; 
 F) checking the rain sensor, whereupon Step D) is performed if the pane is dry, or Step G is performed if the pane is wet; 
 G) checking the rain sensor, whereupon Step D) is performed if new rain drops are detected, or Step H) is performed if no new rain drops are detected; 
 H) checking the timer, whereupon Step E) is performed if the timer indicates a period less than the waiting time, or Step I) is performed if the timer indicates a period greater than or equal to the waiting time; and 
 I) carrying out at least one wiping operation and repeating Step D). 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one to ten wiping operations are carried out. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein one to three wiping operations are carried out. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 3 , wherein one wiping operation is carried out. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wiping operation is carried out after a waiting time of 1 minute to 30 minutes. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 6 , wherein the waiting time is 2 minutes to 10 minutes. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein before or during the wiping operation, a windshield washer system is switched on. 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the wiping operation is carried out only if the motor vehicle engine had been switched off before a shutdown time of at most 120 minutes. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the shutdown time is at most 60 minutes. 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 9 , wherein the shutdown time is at most 30 minutes. 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein carrying out the wiping operation is performed on the transparent pane having a hydrophobic coating in a vehicle of transportation for travel on land, in air, or on water. 
     
     
       13. A device for cleaning and drying a transparent pane for wiping off the residual moisture of a motor vehicle having a motor vehicle engine, comprising at least:
 the transparent pane having a hydrophobic coating; 
 a wiper arrangement with a wiper on the outer side of the pane and a wiper motor for performing a wiping operation; 
 a rain sensor for measuring the quantity of water on the outer side of the pane; and 
 a wiper control connected to the wiper arrangement and the rain sensor, 
 wherein after the motor vehicle engine is turned off, an automated wiping operation is started by turning off the motor vehicle engine, in the case of a constant or a decreasing quantity of water, the wiper control carries out at least one wiping operation, after a waiting time of at least 1 minute. 
 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the hydrophobic coating contains a fluorinated alkyl silane coating. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic coating contains silicon dioxide SiO 2  and, optionally, one element or a plurality of elements from the group Al, B, C, and Zr, preferably silicon oxycarbide SiO x C y . 
     
     
       16. The device according to  claim 13 , wherein the transparent pane having a hydrophobic coating is in a vehicle of transportation for travel on land, in air, or on water. 
     
     
       17. A method for cleaning and drying a transparent pane having a hydrophobic coating for wiping off residual moisture, comprising:
 A)after a motor vehicle engine is turned off, measuring by a rain sensor a quantity of water on an outer side of the pane; and 
 B)in the case of a constant or a decreasing quantity of water, after a waiting time of at least 1 minute measured by a timer, carrying out at least one wiping operation, wherein the wiping operation is controlled by a wiper control, and wherein the wiping operation is carried out only if the motor vehicle engine has been switched off before a shutdown time of at most 120 minutes. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 17 , comprising:
 C) resetting the timer; 
 D) checking a wiper switch, whereupon Step C) is performed if the wiper switch is turned on, or Step E) is performed if the wiper switch is turned off; 
 E) checking the rain sensor, whereupon Step C) is performed if the pane is dry, or Step F) is performed if the pane is wet; 
 F) checking the rain sensor, whereupon Step C) is performed if new rain drops are detected, or Step G) is performed if no new rain drops are detected; 
 G) checking the timer, whereupon Step D) is performed if the timer indicates a period less than the waiting time, or Step H) is performed if the timer indicates a period greater than or equal to the waiting time; and 
 H) carrying out at least one wiping operation and repeating Step C). 
 
     
     
       19. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the wiping operation is carried out after a waiting time of 1 minute to 30 minutes. 
     
     
       20. The method according to  claim 17 , wherein before or during the wiping operation, a windshield washer system is switched on.